A fan is taken on a stretcher from the stands to a waiting air ambulance.

A man was evacuated to hospital by a helicopter that landed on the pitch, two other fans were also hospitalised after supporters of Atletico Parananense and Vasco clashed in the stands in Joinville where the match had been moved with Atletico banned from playing home games in their own stadium.

The game -- which Atletico eventually won 5-1 to claim a place in the Copa Libertadores and consigning Vasco to relegation -- was stopped after just 15 minutes and held up for more than an hour before order was restored by riot police firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Former Lyon midfielder Juninho, who was under contract with Vasco this season having left New York Red Bulls but has been out since November with an injury that could lead to the 38-year-old's retirement, said he was horrified by the scenes.

"I don't have any words to describe what I saw on TV," he told RMC."I asked my daughter to leave the room so that she wouldn't see the images. I saw players crying on the pitch and they didn't want to continue with the game.

"Those images are going to remain engraved in the heads of many people who love football. It's really disappointing, and I hope the authorities are going to react because the whole world is going to be waiting for a response. Brazil is going to host the World Cup and has to provide security for everyone."

The clashes in Joinville are the latest in a series of incidents at Brazilian football grounds in the year before the nation hosts the World Cup finals.